Bac Ninh Moves toward Smart Traffic

In recent years, the Bac Ninh transport system has witnessed a rapid increase in vehicle traffic, accidents, environmental pollution and potential traffic congestion. In this situation, the Department of Transport of Bac Ninh province has carried out research on construction of the Intelligent Traffic Management Center, an effort to make Bac Ninh a smart city in the near future.

The Intelligent Traffic Management and Operation Center has the following function: (1) Smart management and operation (aggregating, reporting, analyzing, forecasting, advising, recommending and warning; managing personnel, assets and other tasks; (2) Displaying industry indicators, GIS maps, camera images, integrating social network analysis, network security; (3) Connection to domestic and foreign agencies, units, organizations smoothly, safely; (4) Main utilities for end users such as leaders, officials, people and businesses; (5) Using data collection equipment systems, traffic information to manage centralized traffic, improve transport infrastructure operations, promptly detect and handle traffic violations and order; and remote traffic flows; (6) Smart alert: Ensuring traffic data collection and sharing (vehicle traffic, traffic jams, traffic accidents); (7) Smart mobility: Managing modern traffic demands, optimizing trips to reduce traffic congestion, reduce environmental pollution, reduce travel time and reduce traffic casualties.

The center is aimed to improve the performance and effect of workflow management of the Department of Transport. The center is connected synchronously with other intelligent systems run by local and external agencies, organizations and units; invested with peripheral equipment systems to collect information automatically and intelligently and provide “smart mobility” information for traffic users. For example, it collects vehicle traffic/density information and data analysis for managing and operating traffic signaling systems, controlling traffic signaling systems with many different methods such as fixed control, event-driven control (guiding, scouting). It also runs surveillance camera systems at traffic junctions to detect traffic jams, traffic accidents and traffic incidents and to provide information for other functional forces.

The center investment will bring in various good outcomes. First of all, economically, according to experience from developed countries, when US$1 is invested for the smart traffic system, the benefit gained is US$25 from ensuring traffic safety, flexible mobility and environmental protection. For urban traffic, when US$1 is invested for the smart traffic light system, the benefit gained is US$40 from saving time and fuel consumed, specifically 25% of waiting time reduced and 22% emissions reduced. Environmentally and socially, the center helps improve the efficiency of route operation. Traffic junction studies showed that traffic flows move in a certain order in junctions with signal lights and the time of effective use of signal lights will increase passages and reduce waiting time. Traffic lights and signals are installed along some main roads and belt roads to enable uninterrupted movement of vehicle flows or almost uninterrupted movement of vehicles in circulation if the speed is within 25-30 kmph, thus reducing travel time and reducing fuel consumption. Intelligent traffic signal control solutions help save fuel and reduce emissions and polluters, because vehicles can run continuously and pass junctions safely, smoothly.

In addition, the center assists traffic police to control traffic flows and tackle traffic congestion. Traffic police’s task of directing traffic flows at peak hours is more important than performing sanctions on deliberate law violations. In the event that police’s duty to direct traffic is reduced (as a result of effective investment in smart traffic project), penalties on intentional acts of violation will be more feasible. This is also a highly effective solution for people to abide by traffic laws.